New Machin definitive stamps - 1 April 2004

Postage rate changes which are effective from 1 April will require
several new stamps. The inland 2nd class rate will increase from
20p to 21p - this will continue to be served by the '2nd class' stamp. A
new 7p stamp will replace the 8p representing the difference between the
1st & 2nd class basic rate.
The rate for 20gr European letters will increase from 38p to 40p and the
NVI European rate ('E') stamp will be replaced by a valued 40p in blue.

Royal Mail publicity images of 7p-43p and our mock-up of the airmail
stamp which will be slate-grey.

The inland 2nd class 100gr rate increases from 34p to 35p; the
international surface mail postcard and 20gr letter rate increases from
38p to 39p; the airmail postcard increases from 42p to 43p. Following
the NVI Universal Airmail 40gr letter rate
stamps issued last year, a booklet of 4 similar stamps for use on
postcards will also be issued on 1 April. The colour is believed to be
slate-grey.

Images are from The Philatelic Bulletin and Postmark
Bulletin and are copyright 2003/4, Royal Mail.

First Day Covers

Norvic Philatelics serviced Post Office first
day covers for these stamps, and a Norvic Exclusive FDCs was produced
for the NVI Airmail Postcard stamp to match the covers produced last
year for the 40gr letter rate stamps(See
right).